People have posted elswhere on this forum comments that since NWA announced a few months ago that platinums would have better award availability, they've actually noticed this to be real (e.g., run an award check for themselves, theymight find an award; run an award check for a non-platinum family memeber on-line, no award).

I *have* noticed better domestic on-line award availability though still pretty slim pickings for popular routes even months in advance. I have NOT noticed better international on-line award availability, everything still seems to be Rulebuster or mixed even many months out.
And I have NOT noticed better international upgrade-from-B-fare availability at all. I still have to do many calls back again and again to have agents keep searching only to me there is nothing available even with very flexible combinations of dates and departure and destination points I give them. I've had agents make real efforts, e.g., spend a lot of time, so I know they were trying.

I really wanted an upgradeable B for a trip in September to Europe, but despite 5-6 spaced out calls to the elite line have not found anything. Finally I found an award on CO for 100,000 miles in Business First, not my first choice, but I'll use that if I can't get an upgradeable. I don't have time to spend an hour every day calling. CO has more upgradeables available for its elites than for NW elites, and than NW has for its elites. And because upgradeables come out of a different bucket than awards, I can't convert my CO award into an upgradeable.

Has any platinum who previously tried getting upgradeable B fares to Europe using NW miles with guarantted advance upgrades noticed improvement with the new supposed special availability for platinums?

I have been platinum for several years and always had great difficulty getting any upgrades on international flights. On my next trip, I am settling for one on the way back from AMS to MSP on a DC 10, then reversing directions to get home to CMH! No upgrade (yet) on the way over - but I will keep calling. It is hard to imagine it being worse for Silver and Gold. This is a (very) weak link in the NW "brand loyalty" program compared to other airlines, in my opinion.

I've had no luck Internationally, no difference from previously. Recently was interested in buying a discounted WBC fare DTW-MAD for myself, and an award ticket or B upgrade for my wife. Nothing doing, even when I emailed Beth Shultis that I would otherwise be forced to buy the WBC fare on DL as DL 'did' have a standard WBC award ticket (using NW miles).

The response was essentially 'take a hike', so I did--bot the DL ticket


Hope Richard Andersom knows what he's doing.

Maybe it is just luck that a week ago I tried to book 2 upgrade awards to BKK anytime in October or November and none were available on any date. Last night I booked two with the same departure and different returns at the standard level on an "M" fare. I am platinum, the other traveler is gold.

The advice to keep trying is IMO the best one. Seats do get released. The new computer system seems to make it much more difficult to book in some ways and much easier in others. These tickets were booked on July 7 for an October 5 departure.

I have been Platinum for 5 years. I fly 90,000 + a year, mostly trans Atlantic. During that time I have been successful at a mileage upgrade about 4 times total. I have done 5 trips this year and so far no upgrades have been available. Never been upgraded at the gate either.

I have been platinum for several years. I normally fly 3 or 4 international flights to both Asia and Europe each year. Almost all are B fare. I try to use miles to upgrade every single time. In the last 3 years, I have been successful only once! The flights are often booked 4 -6 weeks in advance. Each time, I call the Gold/Plat line and inquire about upgrade availability 2 times/week. I'm always told that although I do have an upgradeable fare, there are no WBC seats left for upgrading.

NWA has a very generous frequent flier program in many respects, but not when it comes to international upgrades!

I've gotten op-ups the last couple of times from NRT-LAX. I have been fairly sucessful getting standard intl coach awards. I got 2 awards via the Worldperks line, and then got the last one online. All at standard award levels to Asia during the summer. I had to juggle dates a little, but it wasn't too bad.

There may be no upgrades for a B fare - but often there are for a Y fare on the same flight. At KLM plat's will be ugraded out of the z bucket - which gives you the same chances as having a Y fare ticket as a NW frequent flyer.

However, for those of us travelling at our own expense, a Y fare usually costs nearly the same as a Z fare. And the Z fare is a;lready in WBC with no cost in WP miles.

From the left coast Y is typically MORE than Z (though changeable and refundable): e.g., SFO-AMS Z runs $2200 most of the time, Y runs $2700, B from $1300-1500. Generally I don't need something refundable, I need something reliably upgraded in advance so I can plan my leisure and pre-planned convention trips.

I was recently successful in invoking the new 2004 increased award availability benefit for plats on a domestic ticket. The website showed only rulebuster availablity. Calling the elite line, the agent was able to find one way at standard level on Delta. I asked her about the Platinum availability benefit and she had no clue. She was very friendly, so I asked her if she could contact a supervisor or someone in WorldPerks or yield management to release a seat. After 10 minutes on hold, I had my 25k award from LAN-SAV with the flight times I wanted, 3 flights of which were on CRJ's. I was not going to pay $400+ or burn 50k miles for 3 CRJ flights and 1 15 minute jump on a DC9.

The only time I've been able to get standard WBC awards online was by booking 1-4 days prior to departure. Nothing like deciding on Friday morning to head to AMS the next day!

The international upgrade for elite members, especially plats, is an issue that truly needs to be addressed. It is frustrating to be denied an upgrade with miles on an M or B class fare when you can clearly see that 7 or 8 WBC seats are available on NWA's site (seat map). I have also become frustrated with looking for standard award seats for overseas flights. For me to burn twice the amount of miles to travel for free literally devalues my NWA Worldperks miles in half. I refuse to do it.
I hope that Northwest will realize that our butts in their seats for 80k miles/year means that we deserve a more liberal approach to these upgrades and award travel. I'm not going to abandon NWA but they should be aware that there are lots of carriers out there and high mileage members/ worldclub card purchasers are their bread and butter.

I would get upgraded 100% of the time when I used the NWA stores. The people would see me come in 7 or 8 times (about once a week to check). Two weeks before the flight they always worked a miracle and got me upgraded both ways. Those store no longer exist and I have not been upgraded since that time.